ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI C DISPATCH.COM FREE! FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 25, 2016 Officials: Few burn A Dak Christmas ban citations reported Violation carries $500-maximum fine BY CARL SMITH [email protected] At least three Golden Triangle residents have received misde- meanor citations for violating the nearly-statewide burn ban since it went into effect Rosenhan around mid-October. Officials in Clay and Oktib- beha counties say local agen- cies will continue to enforce the decree as long as drought con- ditions remain. Fire Services Coordinator Kirk Rosenhan said one ticket was issued in Oktibbeha Coun- ty in the last two weeks, and another incident was under investigation Wednesday but had not yet resulted in a cita- tion. Clay County Sheriff Eddie Scott said his department has written two or three citations since Gov. Phil Bryant ordered a 52-county burn ban on Oct. 11. Scott said he didn’t have an exact number of citations when contacted. Lowndes County Sheriff’s Birney Imes/Dispatch Staff Department Lt. Paul Greggs Cheyenne Crunk, left, and her mom, Naomi Crunk, show off one of the few remaining Dak Prescott Cowboy jerseys still said he was unaware of any cita- in stock at The Lodge in Starkville. Cheyenne, a junior mathematics major, and her mom are from Meridianville, Alabama. tions written in his jurisdiction, and Oktibbeha County Chief Deputy Chadd Garnett was un- Demand for Dak Prescott Dallas available to confirm Rosenhan’s report. merchandise is far exceeding supply Currently, 78 of Mississippi’s BY SLIM SMITH 82 counties, including all of the [email protected] Golden Triangle area, remain under a burn ban after a lack of ak Prescott is the gift that keeps on giving for rain plunged most of the state Bulldog fans, even 10 months after he played into a severe drought earlier Dhis last football game at Mississippi State. this fall. Prescott, who set 38 school re- Only four of the state’s south- cords in two-plus seasons as MSU’s INSIDE ernmost areas — Hancock, ■ OUR VIEW: starting quarterback, is now in the Harrison, Jackson and Wilkin- Prescott re- NFL. And he has been a much-need- son counties — are not covered mains a source ed diversion for State fans during a of pride for under the governor’s order and disappointing 2016 football season, MSU fans. other orders issued at the local PAGE 4A level. which concludes on Saturday in Violating the burn ban is a Oxford with the Egg Bowl. misdemeanor. Any person who While Bulldog fans have watched MSU suffer its first losing season this decade, watching Prescott’s willfully breaks the law may Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports be fined up to $500 and no less astonishing debut season with the Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) slides in front than $100. has helped soften the blow. of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Rashard Robinson (33) in Additionally, anyone that See PRESCOTT, 6A this Oct. 2 photo. starts a fire is responsible for See BURN BAN, 3A Shoppers: Black Friday crowds smaller this year thanks to retailers opening on Thanksgiving Small stores get bigger cept shoppers were out at 6 a.m. Kim Moore got up at 2 a.m. and had crowds than large retailers left her home in Macon within an hour. She said she “forced” her friend Mar- BY ISABELLE ALTMAN sha Lane along. Neither of them are [email protected] frequent Black Friday shoppers. “Now, I can truly, honestly say peo- Between Cyber Monday, Small ple have lost their minds (over Black Business Saturday and retailers open- Friday),” Moore said. “Because until ing their doors in advance on Thanks- you’ve walked in someone’s shoes, you Deanna Robinson/Dispatch Staff giving Day this year, Black Friday in really can’t comment, but now I can. Black Friday shoppers line up outside Belk in early morning hours today, searching for Columbus looked like most other shop- But, no, it really hasn’t been that bad. good deals. Crowds tended to be smaller this year because stores opened in advance. ping days close to Christmastime, ex- See BLACK FRIDAY, 3A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS CALENDAR LOCAL FOLKS PUBLIC 1 What did Black Friday originally refer MEETINGS Through Nov. 30 Dec. 5: Oktibbe- to? ■ Peanut butter drive: Join Operation Ukraine 2 What was the date and place of first ha County Board in collecting 10,000 jars of peanut butter to “Santa Claus parade” ever held? of Supervisors, 3 What year did Black Friday become be shipped to Haiti in the wake of Hurricane the biggest shopping day? Matthew. More than 100,000 children have been county courthouse, 4 What U.S. city first popularized the left in need of food. Drop-off point is Trustmark 9 a.m. Jeremiah Henley term “Black Friday?” Bank, 624 Main St., Columbus. Dec. 6: Starkville 5 When did “Black Friday” become a Board of Aldermen, Pre-K, West Lowndes national term? Monday, Nov. 28 City Hall, 5:30 p.m. High 64 Low 38 Answers, 8B ■ Columbus Tree Lighting: Festivities sur- Dec. 6: Oktibbe- Mostly sunny rounding the lighting of Columbus’ community ha County Board Full forecast on Christmas tree are 5:30-7 p.m. at the east end of Supervisors, page 2A. of the Old Highway 82 pedestrian bridge at the county courthouse, Riverwalk. Enjoy music, refreshments, craft activ- 5:30 p.m. ities and photos with Santa and Miz Claus. Tree Dec. 19: Oktibbe- INSIDE lighting expected at 6:15 p.m. For information, contact Main Street Columbus, 662-328-6305. ha County Board Classifieds7B Obituaries 5A of Supervisors, Comics 6B Opinions 4A ■ Starkville Christmas Parade: Starkville’s Hunter Hart lives in Crossword 8B Religion 7A Christmas Parade begins at 6 p.m. making its Starkville and is a photog- county courthouse, Dear Abby 6B way through downtown. rapher. 9 a.m. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2016 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com SAY WHAT? DID YOU HEAR? “A gentleman in every sense of the word, Boo Ferriss will be missed but certainly not forgotten.” MSU Director of Athletics John Cohen said of David Meadow “Boo” Ala. doctor indicted after drug Ferriss, one of the most beloved figures in Mississippi State baseball death of 3 Doors Down guitarist Friday history and a Boston Red Sox great, who died Thursday. Story, 1B. Roberts was found dead outside hotel room while visiting Wisconsin for a A THOUSAND WORDS charity performance earlier this year BY JAY REEVES use, not anything that was The Associated Press attributed to anything Dr. Snellgrove did,” he said. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Roberts lived in Span- — An Alabama doctor is ish Fort, Alabama, near accused of illegally pre- Mobile, at the time of his scribing drugs that con- death; he was 38. A grand tributed to the overdose jury in Mobile returned death of longtime 3 Doors the indictment. Down guitarist Matt Rob- Roberts’ father, Darrell erts earlier this year, court Roberts Sr., told a Drug documents show. Enforcement Administra- Newly unsealed re- tion agent that Snellgrove cords show Dr. Richard Snellgrove of Fairhope, was a “celebrity junkie” Alabama, is charged with who his son called “Snel- illegally prescribing Fen- ly,” according to a sworn tanyl, an opioid pain med- statement by DEA agent ication, and another drug Michael Burt. The two to Roberts days before he were “tight” and Matt was found dead of a over- Roberts sometimes had dose in August in West after-hours appointments Bend, Wisconsin. with Snellgrove, whom he Records show Snell- had seen as a patient since grove, 59, was named at least 2004, the state- in a six-count federal in- ment said. dictment in October. The Roberts was found charges were not made dead in the hall outside public until a judge un- his hotel room while visit- sealed them last week. ing Wisconsin for a chari- An attorney represent- ty performance. Roberts ing Snellgrove, Dennis was wearing a Fentanyl Knizley, said Wednesday patch like one prescribed that the physician did by Snellgrove two days nothing wrong. earlier, the statement “If medication played a said, and he also had pills role in Mr. Roberts’ death matching ones the doctor it was because of improper prescribed. CONTACTING THE DISPATCH Office hours: Main line: n 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon-Fri n 662-328-2424 HOW DO I ... Email a letter to the editor? n [email protected] Report a missing paper? n 662-328-2424 ext. 100 Report a sports score? n Toll-free 877-328-2430 n 662-241-5000 n Operators are on duty until Submit a calendar item? 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 6:30 - n Go to www.cdispatch.com/ 9:30 a.m. Sun. community Buy an ad? Submit a birth, wedding Luisa Porter/Dispatch Staff n 662-328-2424 or anniversary announce- Shane Burns of Columbus hooks up Christmas decorations on Main Street downtown on Monday. The city and Columbus Light and Water teamed up to hang wreaths, snowflakes and Christmas tree lights. Report a news tip? ment? n 662-328-2471 n Download forms at www. n [email protected] cdispatch.com.lifestyles Physical address: 516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39701 Mailing address: P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703-0511 No holiday for political talk, social media posts suggest Starkville Office: 101 S. Lafayette St. #16, Starkville, MS 39759 Facebook and Twitter posts revealed tlefield said things were Utah: one for Trump sup- going more smoothly porters, one for Clinton SUBSCRIPTIONS people still struggling to come to than feared when her supporters and one for liberal grandmother and backers of independent HOW TO SUBSCRIBE grips with 2016 presidential election partner visited the home candidate Evan McMul- lin.